MILPITAS, CA
- June 4, 2012 - Linear Technology Corporation introduces
theLTC4370, a first-of-its-kind
current-sharing controller with reverse current blocking. The
LTC4370 frees the designer from the limitations and
complications of existing current-sharing methods to obtain a
simpler, quicker, and space-saving solution for sharing
between two supplies. Its supply-agnostic feature lends the
design more flexibility and a longer lifetime. By
incorporating diode behavior, the controller prevents one
supply failure from bringing down the entire system.
Designers of high availability systems frequently engineer
redundancy into their power systems by paralleling two
similar supplies with diodes (diode-OR) such that one can
handle the load when the other fails. System reliability is
further increased if both supplies operate simultaneously,
each sharing half the load current. Lower currents lead to
cooler operation, reducing the failure rate by half for every
10oC fall in temperature. Other load-sharing
benefits include faster recovery after supply failure, and
the ability to operate supplies near their peak efficiency
point. Prior to the LTC4370, load-sharing solutions demanded
active control of the supplies through their trim pins or
feedback networks. They also required a share bus, and
stability compensation dependent on the supply type. The
LTC4370 greatly simplifies designs of
reliable power systems.
The LTC4370 controls N-channel MOSFETs in series with each
supply. These MOSFETs act like diodes with a variable forward
voltage. The LTC4370 adjusts the forward voltage of the
MOSFET diodes to offset the mismatch in input supply voltages
until the currents

Linear Technology Corporation, a member of the S&P 500, has
been designing, manufacturing and marketing a broad line of
high performance analog integrated circuits for major
companies worldwide for three decades. The Company's products
provide an essential bridge between our analog world and the
digital electronics in communications, networking,
industrial, automotive, computer, medical, instrumentation,
consumer, and military and aerospace systems. Linear
Technology produces power management, data conversion, signal
conditioning, RF and interface
ICs, µModule®subsystems, and wireless sensor
network products. For more information, visitwww.linear.com

LT, LTC, LTM, µModule and are registered trademarks of Linear
Technology Corp. All other trademarks are the property of
their respective owners.